This is part of the data upon which I formed my opinion
posted above.
After the close of World War II, Patton (now a full General)
became the occupation commander of Bavaria, and made
arrangements for saving the world-famous Lipizzaner stallions
of Vienna. However, he was relieved of duty after making
comments that the Nazis were nothing more than a normal
political party, and ordering former SS units to begin drilling in
attempt to gain some respectability. His view of the war was that
with Hitler gone, the German army could be rebuilt into an ally
in a potential war against the Russians, whom Patton notoriously
despised and considered a greater menace than the Germans.
During this period, he wrote that the Allied victory would be in
vain if it led to a tyrant worse than Hitler and an army of
"Mongolian savages" controlling half of Europe. Eisenhower
had at last had enough, relieving Patton of all duties and
ordering his return to the United States. When Patton openly
accused Eisenhower of caring more about a political career
than his military duties, their friendship effectively came to
an end. In addition, Patton was highly critical of the victorious
Allies use of German forced labor. He commented in his diary
"I’m also opposed to sending PW’s to work as slaves in foreign
lands (in particular, to France) where many will be starved to
death." He also noted "It is amusing to recall that we fought
the revolution in defence of the rights of man and the civil war
to abolish slavery and have now gone back on both principles".[
(See also Eisenhower and German POWs).
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From time to time conspiracy theorists have suggested that
Eisenhower had Patton asassinated;that the automobile accident in
which Patton broke his neck was not an accident at all. While
there is no evidence to suggest that this is true. Patton's diary does
suggest that the general was planning either to retire or resign his
commission and enter politics. Given his popularity with the American
people and with the respect in which he was held by his men, it is
entirely possible he could have won the same nomination his erstwhile
friend acceptedIt must be noted that
Patton's medals for combat valor make Eisenhower's medals for
merit seem pale by comparison, and that by 1948 many
Americans had come to see the Soviet menace as Patton had
in 1945.
Eisenhower's ethnic background made him a true hater of the
Krauts and despite the several Generals, Gen. Patton included
he (Eisenhower) refused to release all the POWS after the war
be changed their status from POWS to DEF(Disarmed Enemy Forces)
and forced them to work on the restoration efforts throughout
Europe.
Sgtleo